Comforter divided into sections with differentiated properties

ABSTRACT

A bed comforter comprises a center section sized to cover a top side of a mattress, the center section including a first filling material with a first percentage of down; a first side section on a left side of the center section, the first side section configured to at least partially drop from a left side edge of the mattress, the first side section including a second filling material with feathers and a second percentage of down, the second percentage of down being less than the first percentage of down; and a second side section on a right side of the center section, the second side section configured to at least partially drop from a right side edge of the mattress, the second side section including the second filling material with feathers and the second percentage of down.

BACKGROUND

Comforters are a common coverings to keep sleepers on a bed comfortable and warm. Many sleepers like their comforters to be soft, fluffy and light, yet still provide sufficient thermal insulation. Accordingly, down comforters have become quite popular although quite expensive, especially in view of the increasing scarcity of sufficient down for bed coverings, which are often quite large.

SUMMARY

The following implementations and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools, and methods that are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not necessarily limiting in scope. In various implementations one or more of the above-described problems have been addressed, while other implementations are directed to other improvements.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a comforter for a bed of a particular size, the comforter comprising a center section sized to cover at least substantially a top side of a mattress on a bed of a particular size, the center section including a first filling material with a first percentage of down; a first side section disposed on a left side of the center section, the first side section configured to at least partially drop from a left side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, the first side section including a second filling material with feathers and a second percentage of down, the second percentage of down being less than the first percentage of down; and a second side section disposed on a right side of the center section, the second side section configured to at least partially drop from a right side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, the second side section including the second filling material with feathers and the second percentage of down.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a comforter for a bed of a particular size, the comforter comprising a top sheet of generally rectangular shape larger in width and length than a top side of a mattress on a bed of a particular size; a bottom sheet substantially the same shape and size as the top sheet and stitched together at the perimeter; stitching dividing the comforter into at least three sections, the three sections including a center section sized to cover substantially entirely the top side of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, a first side section disposed on a left side of the center section, and a second side section disposed on the right side of the center section opposite the first side section, the first side section configured to at least partially drop from a left side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, the second side section configured to at least partially drop from a right side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size; a first filling material with a first percentage of down between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in the center section; and a second filling material with feathers and a second percentage of down between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in the first side section and in the second side section, the second percentage of down being less than the first percentage of down.

The first filling material may have a greater fill power than the fill power of the second filling material. The center section may extend substantially entirely across the longitudinal direction of the comforter. The center section may extend the entire length across the longitudinal direction of the comforter. The center section may have a width that extends a short distance beyond the side edges of the mattress on the bed of the particular size. The first side section and the second side section may each include a blend of feathers and down with a sufficient percentage of down to emulate substantially the same loft as the center section. The first percentage of down in the center section may be greater than 70% and smaller than 95%, and the second percentage of down in the first side section and in the second side section may be greater than 5% and smaller than 30%. The center section may be divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a checkerboard pattern across the center section. The center section may be divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a width direction of the center section, each of the baffle boxes extending across a longitudinal direction of the center section. The center section may be divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a longitudinal direction of the center section, each of the baffle boxes extending across a width-wise direction of the center section.

These and other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant art upon a reading of the following descriptions and a study of the several examples of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic illustration of a top view of a comforter according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view of a comforter according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2B illustrates another schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view of a comforter according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates another schematic illustration of a top view of a comforter according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates another schematic illustration of a top view of a comforter according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a comforter having different sections with different filling, preferably selecting the filling based on the locations users prefer comfort, thermal insulation, and resilience and the locations where users have less concern. For example, the center section of a comforter is more likely to contact a sleeper and thus users may prefer filling having greater comfort and/or thermal insulation compared to the sections of the comforter that do not contact the sleeper. For example, the sections of the comforter that drop off the side or bottom of the bed do not contact the sleeper, and thus less plush filling may be used.

In some embodiments, the comforter may be divided into a center section and side sections (left and right). The center section may be defined as the portion that contacts a top surface of a mattress. In some embodiments, the center section may be defined to extend entirely in a longitudinal direction of the comforter, to include the drop off the foot of the bed. A first side section may be defined as the portion of the comforter on a first side (e.g., left of the center section when standing at the foot of the bed). The first side section may be defined as the drop portion that at least partially hangs from a first side edge of the mattress. The second side section may be defined as the portion of the comforter on a second side (e.g., right of the center section when standing at the foot of the bed, opposite to the first side section). The second side section may be defined as the drop portion that at least partially hangs from the second edge of the mattress opposite to the first side edge. In some embodiments, the center section may include a portion of the comforter that drops of the left and right sides of the mattress, since they will raise up and may contact the sleepers, when they get under the comforter.

In some embodiments, the center section may include a first filling material, that provides greater comfort, better thermal insulation and improved resilience, such as down or down blend. Each of the first and second side sections may include a second filling material with less comfort, less thermal insulation and reduced resilience, such as feather or feather blend.

The maintain a more consistent appearance, the fill power of each section may not be consistent. For example, the center section may have a fill power of first filling material greater than the fill power of the second filling material in the side sections.

In some embodiments, each of the first and the second filling materials may comprise a mixture of down and a non-down material. The down and the non-down material in the first filling material may be mixed so as to have a fill power greater than the fill power of the second filling material. In some embodiments, each of the first filling material and the second filling material may include down. The amount of down in the center section may be greater than the amount of down in the side sections. In some embodiments, the first filling material may have a higher resilience (elasticity) than the second filling material, and may have a higher thermal insulation than each of the first and the second side sections.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a top view of a comforter 100 according to some embodiments. In this paper, a comforter is intended to represent a type of blanket including a shell and filling material enclosed with in the shell to keep a user (e.g., sleeper) warm, especially during sleep. In some embodiments, the comforter may be wrapped in a duvet. The comforter 100 has a width W1 and a length L as shown, and is intended to be positioned over a bed so that the sleeper rests under the comforter 100along a longitudinal direction (i.e., vertical direction in FIG. 1). In the example shown in FIG. 1, the comforter 100 includes a center section 102, a first side section 104A, and a second side section 104B.

The center section 102 is intended to represent a section of the comforter 100 to be placed on a top surface of a mattress. That is, the center section 102 may be designed to cover a sleeper on the mattress. In some embodiments, the center section 102 has a width W2, which may be approximately the same as a width of the mattress. For example, for a queen-size mattress, the width W2 of the center section 102 may be approximately 60 inches. In another example, when for a king-size mattress, the width W2 of the center section 102 may be approximately 76 inches. In some embodiments, the width of the center section may be increased (e.g., by 12 inches or 10% of the overall width) to ensure that the portions of the sides that raise up when the one or more sleeper get under the comforter 100 contact the more plush first filling material of the center section 102.

In some embodiments, the center section 102 has a length L (e.g., 80-110 inches). In some embodiments, the length may be the same or longer than the mattress length. In some embodiments, the length may be increased (e.g., by 12 inches or 10% of the length of the mattress in the longitudinal direction. In some embodiments, the foot portion of the comforter 100 may be entirely part of the center section 102. That is, the center section may extend substantially the entire length of the comforter (e.g., the entire length, the entire length except for piping, the entire length except for decorative border sections, the entire length except for a bottom border section, etc.). The dimension of the center section 102 may correspond to commercially distributed mattress sizes, such as single, twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, three quarters, full XL, Olympic queen, and Texas king, etc.

In the example in FIG. 1, the center section 102 extends entirely in a longitudinal direction of the comforter 100 to maintain consistency (e.g., texture, plushness, resilience, etc.) from top (e.g., neck) to bottom (feet).

In some embodiments, the shell of the center section 102 may be formed of applicable materials such as cotton, silk, nylon, polyester, or a blend (e.g., a blend of fabric containing one or more of these materials).

The first side section 104A represents a left side section of the comforter 100 and formed to at least partially hang from a side edge (e.g., left side edge) of the mattress. Similarly, the second side section 104B represents a right section of a comforter 100 opposite the side on which the first side section 104A is provided, and formed to at least partially hang from a side edge (right side edge) of the mattress. In some embodiments, the first side section 104A and the second side section 104B may drop off the side of the bed. In some embodiments, the first side section 104A and the second side section 104B are symmetrically disposed with respect to the center section 102. In some embodiments, the first side section 104A and the second side section 104B have a width W3 based on the desired drop (e.g., 10-20 inches). In some embodiments, the side sections have a width at least equal to but preferably larger than the thickness of the mattress (which is often between 4 inches and 12 inches). It is noted that a “width” of the first side section 104A and the second side section 104B is reflected in FIG. 1 in a horizontal direction. In some embodiments, the first side section 104A and the second side section 104 have the same length L as the center section 102 in a longitudinal direction of the mattress.

In some embodiments, the shell of the first side section 104A and/or the second side section 104B may be formed of applicable materials such as cotton, silk, nylon, polyester, and a fabric containing one or more of these materials. In some embodiments, the shell of the first side section 104A and/or the second side section 104B is integrally formed with the shell of the center section 102 with the same material as the center section 102.

In the example in FIG. 1, a first boundary 106A is formed between the center section 102 and the first side section 104A, and a second boundary 106B is formed between the center section 102 and the second side section 104B. The first boundary 106A and the second boundary 106B may be formed in an applicable manner, such as by stitching, a partition wall, bonding, etc., as described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In some embodiments, the center section 102 may include a plurality of baffle boxes 110. Each of the baffle boxes 110 may include a first filling material 108 therein. The baffle boxes 110 may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern in the width and longitudinal directions. A “baffle box” is intended to represent a chamber constructed with boundaries (possibly formed by stitching, partition walls, etc.). In some embodiments, a baffle box may have a square or rectangular shape. Each of the baffle boxes 110 may restrict movement of the first filling material 108 to avoid shifting of the first filling material 108.

In some embodiments, the widths of the baffle boxes 110 may be consistent (e.g., approximately 12 inches). In some embodiments, the lengths of the baffle boxes 110 may be consistent (e.g., approximately 12 inches). In some embodiments, the widths of the baffle boxes 110 may be smaller than the width of the first side section 104A and the width of the second side section 104B. In some embodiments, since movement of a sleeper may affect more significantly shifting of the first filling material 108 in the baffle boxes 110 than deviation of the second filling material 112 in the first side section 104A and the second side section 104B, the shorter width of the baffle boxes 110 may more efficiently restrain the shifting of filling materials.

In some embodiments, the first side section 104A and the second side section 104B each includes a plurality of anti-shifting obstacles 114 to eliminate or reduce shifting of the filling material. An “anti-shifting obstacle” is intended to represent a structure configured to restrict shifting of a filling material in the space where the obstacle is formed. In the example of FIG. 1, the anti-shifting obstacles 114 may be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the first side section 104A and of the second side section 104B. The anti-shifting obstacles 114 may include stitching (possibly in the form of a plus sign), buttons, bonding, etc. The stitching need not cross the entire width of each side section. In some embodiments, an interval between adjacent anti-shifting obstacles 114 in the first side section 104A and/or the second side section 104B may be substantially uniform. Each anti-shifting obstacle may be aligned with the horizontal stitching of each baffle box 110 in the center section 102 of the comforter 100. In some embodiments, the first side section 104A and/or the second side section 104B may have a plurality of baffle boxes in the same or similar manner as the baffle boxes 110 of the center section 102, instead of or in addition to the anti-shifting obstacles 114.

In some embodiments, the first filling material 108 may include resilient material. The first filling material 108 may include down (e.g., white goose down, grey goose down, white duck down, gray duck down, etc.), feathers (e.g., white goose feather, gray goose feather, white duck feather, gray duck feather, etc.), wool, silk, plant-derived fabric (e.g., cotton, etc.), synthetic materials (e.g., polyester, acryl, etc.), and/or combinations of the above. For example, the first filling material 108 may include a combination of one or more types of down and one or more types of feather (along with other materials and/or unintended contaminants). In some embodiments, the first filling material 108 includes a mixture of down and feather with the percentage of down being greater than 50% (e.g., 70%-95%) with respect to the entire components of the first filling material 108.

In some embodiments, the second filling material 112 is intended to represent resilient material in the first side section 104A and/or the second side section 104B of the comforter 100, although possibly less resilient than the first filling material 108. The second filling material 112 may include down (e.g., white goose down, grey goose down, white duck down, gray duck down, etc.), feathers (e.g., white goose feather, gray goose feather, white duck feather, gray duck feather, etc.), wool, silk, plant-derived fabric (e.g., cotton, etc.), synthetic materials (e.g., polyester, acryl, etc.), and/or combinations of the above, and so on. For example, the second filling material 112 may include a combination of down (possibly one or more types of down) and feather (possibly one or more types of feather). In some embodiments, the second filling material 112 includes a mixture of down and feather with the percentage of down being less than 50% (e.g., 5%-30%) with respect to the entire components of the second filling material 112.

In some embodiments, a fill power of the first filling material 108 is greater than a fill power of the second filling material 112. “Fill power” may mean an aerial volume of space (e.g., cubic inch) obtained by a unit weight of a filling material. Although the term “fill power” is typically used for down, “fill power” herein may be used for any applicable filling material. In general, as fill power increases, a filling material may provide more fluffiness. The measurement of fill power involves taking a one-ounce sample of a material in a plexiglass cylinder with a weighted piston compressing the sample. The test requires controlled temperature, humidity, and preparation of the sample. When fill power is expressed as cubic inches per ounce (in³/oz), a lofting power of 400-450 is considered medium quality, 500-550 is considered good, 550-750 is considered very good, and 750+ is considered excellent. The fill power of down may or may not be greater than a fill power of non-down materials (e.g., feather, synthetic materials, etc.). Similarly, when two or more materials are mixed, the fill power may depend on the combination and mixed state of the materials. In some embodiments, the first filling material 108 may have a fill power in the range of 425 to 900.

Because the first filling material 108 is included in the center section 102, it is more likely than the second filling material 112 to contact the sleeper. According to the differentiated fill power of the filling materials, the comforter 100 can selectively provide greater fluffiness to the sections that contact the body of the sleeper. Further, because the materials are different in the different sections, different fill powers may be used to achieve a visually imperceptible difference of fluffiness.

In some embodiments, each of the first filling material 108 and the second filling material 112 includes a mixture of down and a non-down material (e.g., feather, synthetic materials, etc.). The mixture of down and non-down material in the first filling material 108 may be mixed to have a fill power greater than the fill power of the second filling material 112. A fill power of the filling material can largely depend on a mixed state of the multiple materials as well as a fill power of each material. For example, the down and non-down material in the first filling material 108 may be mixed more homogenously than the down and the non-down material in the second filling material 112 to achieve the intended fill power.

In some embodiments, by using down of different grades, different fill powers of down can be obtained. In another example, down of different type (e.g., goose and duck) may have different fill powers. In a situation, some down may need less fill power and less down to achieve the same loft of the first filling material 108 and/or the second filling material 112. In some embodiments, the first filling material 108 is selected to ensure that the center section 102 is lighter.

In some embodiments, the first filling material 108 may be selected to have greater resilience than the second filling material 112. In this paper, resilience is intended to define how much a materials tries to return to an original state after being crushed (e.g., sat on, folded, rested on, etc.). When a first material returns to its original shape and a second material of the same mass as the first material does not return to its original shape, the first material can be said to have greater resilience than the second material. In some embodiments, the first filling material 108 may be selected to include materials with increased resilience to loads thereon as those materials selected for the second filling material 112. By using a filling material of a higher resilience at the center section 102, a crushed volume of first filling materials 108 in the center section 102 can more effectively recover. By contrast, the filling material of the first side section 104A and/or the second side section 104B of the comforter 100 need not be as resilient as the first filling material 108, especially because the first side section 104A and/or the second side section 104B of the comforter 100 are designed to at least partially hang from side edges of the mattress, and thus are less likely to receive load.

In some embodiments, the center section 102 has a higher thermal insulation than the first side section 104A and/or the second side section 104B. “Thermal insulation” describes how well the materials warms the sleeper and/or retains heat. In general, the first filling materials 108 may be selected to have increased thermal insulation relative to the second filling materials 112. By providing higher thermal insulation in the center section 102, it is possible to efficiently maintain warmth around a sleeper.

In some embodiments, each of the first filling material 108 and the second filling material 112 includes a combination of down and a non-down material. The first filling material 108 may include a higher percentage of down than the second filling material 112. For example, the first filling material 108 may include 70-95% down. The second filling material 112 may include 5-30% down. By reducing the percentage of down in the comforter 100, the comforter 100 may have hypoallergenic property.

In some embodiments, the comforter 100 for a bed of a particular size may include a top sheet of generally rectangular shape larger in width and length than a top side of a mattress on a bed of a particular size, and a bottom sheet substantially the same shape and size as the top sheet and stitched together at the perimeter. Stitching may divide the comforter into at least three sections, including a center section sized to cover substantially entirely the top side of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, a first side section disposed on a left side of the center section, and a second side section disposed on the right side of the center section opposite the first side section. The first side section may be configured to at least partially drop from a left side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size. The second side section may be configured to at least partially drop from a right side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size. A first filling material with a first percentage of down may be positioned between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in the center section. A second filling material with feathers and a second percentage of down may be positioned between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in the first side section and in the second side section. The second percentage of down may be less than the first percentage of down.

The first filling material may have a greater fill power than the fill power of the second filling material. The center section may extend substantially entirely across the longitudinal direction of the comforter. The center section may extend the entire length across the longitudinal direction of the comforter. The center section may have a width that extends a short distance beyond the side edges of the mattress on the bed of the particular size. The first side section and the second side section may each include a blend of feathers and down with a sufficient percentage of down to emulate substantially the same loft as the center section. The first percentage of down in the center section may be greater than 70% and smaller than 95%, and the second percentage of down in the first side section and in the second side section may be greater than 5% and smaller than 30%. The center section may be divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a checkerboard pattern across the center section. The center section may be divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a width direction of the center section, each of the baffle boxes extending across a longitudinal direction of the center section. The center section may be divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a longitudinal direction of the center section, each of the baffle boxes extending across a width-wise direction of the center section.

FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view of a comforter 200A according to some embodiments. In the example of the comforter 200A shown in FIG. 2A, the cross-sectional view may correspond to a cross section of the comforter 100 taken along the line C-C in FIG. 1, other cross sections of the comforter 100, or cross sections of other comforters (e.g., a comforter 300 in FIG. 3 and a comforter 400 in FIG. 4). The comforter 200A may include a center section 202, a first side section 204A, and a second side section 204B. In some embodiments, the center section 202, the first side section 204A, and the second side section 204B correspond to the center section 102, the first side section 104A, and the second side section 104B in FIG. 1, respectively.

In the example of the comforter 200 shown in FIG. 2A, the center section 202, the first side section 204A, and the second side section 204B are compartmentalized using a plurality of partitioning inner walls 216. Each of the partitioning inner walls 216 partition separate spaces within a comforter 100. In some embodiments, the comforter is partitioned to include the center section 202 and the first side section 204A or the center section 202 and the second side section 204B. One or more of the partitioning inner walls 216 may be formed of applicable materials, such as cotton, silk, nylon, polyester, and a fabric containing one or more of these materials. The partitioning inner walls 216 may be formed of the same material with a shell of the comforter 200, or formed of a different material from the shell of the comforter 200.

As shown, the partitioning inner walls correspond to the longitudinal divisions of the baffle boxes of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the center section 202 is compartmentalized into a plurality of baffle boxes using the plurality of baffle box walls 218. One or more of the baffle box walls 218 partition the center section 202 into multiple spaces, namely, into multiple baffle boxes. One or more of the baffle box walls 218 include fabric materials such as cotton, silk, nylon, polyester, and a fabric containing one or more of these materials. For example, the baffle box walls 218 may be formed of the same materials as a shell of the comforter 200, or formed of a different material from the shell of the comforter 200. For example, the baffle box walls 218 may be formed of the same material as the partitioning inner walls 216 or a different material.

One or more of the baffle boxes of the center section 202 includes a first filling material 208, and the first side section 204A and the second side section 204B each include a second filling material 212. In some embodiments, the first filling material 208 and the second filling material 212 correspond to the first filling material 208 and the second filling material 212 in FIG. 1, respectively.

FIG. 2B is another schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view of a comforter 200B according to some embodiments. Similarly to FIG. 2A, the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 2B may correspond to a cross section of the comforter 100 taken along the line C-C in FIG. 1, other cross sections of the comforter 100, or cross sections of other comforters (e.g., a comforter 300 in FIG. 3 and a comforter 400 in FIG. 4).

In the example of the comforter 200 shown in FIG. 2B, the center section 202, the first side section 204A, and the second side section 204B are divided by stitching a top sheet and a bottom sheet of the comforter, which is referred to as a joint 220. One or more of joints 220 may section separate spaces within the comforter 100. In this embodiment, joints 220 divide the comforter into the center section 202 and the first side section 204A or into the center section 202 and the second side section 204B. One or more of the joints 220 may be formed by applicable structure such as stitching, bonding, glues, etc.

In the example of the comforter 200 shown in FIG. 2B, baffle boxes within the center section 202 may be formed using different structure than the joints 220. For example, the joints 220 may be formed using stitching, and the baffle boxes of the center portion 102 may formed using partition walls 218. The configuration of the baffle box walls 218 and other configuration not described here may be the same as one shown in FIG. 2A and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is another schematic illustration of a top view of a comforter 300 according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the baffle boxes may be shaped differently than the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the comforter 300 includes a center section 302, a first side section 304A, and a second side section 304B, which may correspond to the center section 102, the first side section 104A, and the second side section 104B of the comforter 100 in FIG. 1, respectively.

As shown, the center section 302 may include a plurality of baffle boxes 310 that are arranged to create longitudinal boxes across of the center section 302. Each of the baffle boxes 310 may extend across the center section 102 in a longitudinal direction. In some embodiments, since movement of a sleeper usually occurs in a width direction of the comforter 300, for example, by a roll-over of a sleeper, shifting of filling materials is believed shift less in a longitudinal direction. The center section 302 need not be divided into a plurality of regions in the longitudinal direction. Although not shown, anti-shifting obstacles (such as those shown in FIG. 1) may be added to the longitudinal baffle boxes to eliminate or reduce shifting of the filling.

In some embodiments, the first filling material 308 included in the baffle boxes 310 may have the same configuration as the first filling material 108 in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the widths of the baffle boxes 310 in the width direction of the comforter 300 may be consistent (e.g., 12 inches), and the width of the baffle boxes 310 may be smaller than a width of the first side section 304A (e.g., 15 inch) and/or a width of the second side section 304B (e.g., 15 inch). In some embodiments, since movement of a sleeper may more significantly affect width-wise shifting of the first filling material 308 in the baffle boxes 310 than shifting of the second filling material 312 in the first side section 304A and the second side section 304B, the shorter width of the baffle boxes 310 may more effectively restrain the shifting of filling materials.

FIG. 4 is another schematic illustration of a top view of a comforter 400 according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, an arrangement of baffle boxes may be different than the arrangements of the comforter 100 and the comforter 300. Specifically, the comforter 400 includes a center section 402, a first side section 404A, and a second side section 404B, which may correspond to the center section 102, the first side section 104A, and the second side section 104B of the comforter 100 in FIG. 1, respectively, and/or the center section 302, the first side section 304A, and the second side section 304B of the comforter 300 in FIG. 3, respectively.

The center section 402 includes a plurality of baffle boxes 410. Each of the baffle boxes 410 includes a first filling material 408 therein. The baffle boxes 410 may be arranged in the width-wise direction of the center section 402. That is, each of the baffle boxes 410 may extend across the width of the center section 402.

In some embodiments, the first filling material 408 included in the baffle boxes 410 may have the same configuration as the first filling material 108 in FIG. 1 and/or the first filling material 308 in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, the widths of the baffle boxes 410 in the longitudinal direction of the center section 402 may be consistent (e.g., approximately 12 inches). The widths of the baffle boxes 410 (in the longitudinal direction) may be smaller than the widths (in the lateral direction) of the first side section 404A and the second side section 404B. In some embodiments, shorter widths of the baffle boxes 410 may more efficiently restrain the shifting of filling materials.

The first side section 404A, and a second side section 404B may or may not have anti-shifting obstacles, as opposed to the anti-shifting obstacles 114 provided in the first side section 104A, and a second side section 104B shown in FIG. 1.

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components or structures described as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein.

Although an overview of the subject matter has been described with reference to specific example embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. Such embodiments of the subject matter may be referred to herein, individually or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single disclosure or concept if more than one is, in fact, disclosed.

The embodiments illustrated herein are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed. Other embodiments may be used and derived therefrom, such that structural substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in either an inclusive or exclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be provided for resources or structures described herein as a single instance. Additionally, boundaries between various resources are somewhat arbitrary, and particular resources are illustrated in a context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within a scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate resources in the example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single resource may be implemented as separate resources. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within a scope of embodiments of the present disclosure as represented by the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment. 

1. A comforter for a bed of a particular size, the comforter comprising: a center section sized to cover at least substantially a top side of a mattress on a bed of a particular size, the center section including a first filling material with a first percentage of down; a first side section disposed on a left side of the center section, the first side section configured to at least partially drop from a left side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, the first side section including a second filling material with feathers and a second percentage of down, the second percentage of down being less than the first percentage of down; and a second side section disposed on a right side of the center section, the second side section configured to at least partially drop from a right side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, the second side section including the second filling material with feathers and the second percentage of down.
 2. The comforter of claim 1, wherein the first filling material has a greater fill power than a fill power of the second filling material.
 3. The comforter of claim 1, wherein the center section extends substantially entirely across a longitudinal direction of the comforter.
 4. The comforter of claim 3, wherein the center section extends the entire length across the longitudinal direction of the comforter.
 5. The comforter of claim 1, wherein the center section has a width that extends a short distance beyond side edges of the mattress on the bed of the particular size.
 6. The comforter of claim 1, wherein the first side section and the second side section each include a blend of feathers and down with a sufficient percentage of down to emulate substantially a same loft as the center section.
 7. The comforter of claim 6, wherein the first percentage of down in the center section is greater than 70% and smaller than 95%, and the second percentage of down in the first side section and in the second side section is greater than 5% and smaller than 30%.
 8. The comforter of claim 1, wherein the center section is divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a checkerboard pattern across the center section.
 9. The comforter of claim 1, wherein the center section is divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a width direction of the center section, each of the baffle boxes extending across a longitudinal direction of the center section.
 10. The comforter of claim 1, wherein the center section is divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a longitudinal direction of the center section, each of the baffle boxes extending across a width-wise direction of the center section.
 11. A comforter for a bed of a particular size, the comforter comprising: a top sheet of generally rectangular shape larger in width and length than a top side of a mattress on a bed of a particular size; a bottom sheet substantially a same shape and size as the top sheet and stitched together at a perimeter; stitching dividing the comforter into at least three sections, the three sections including a center section sized to cover substantially entirely the top side of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, a first side section disposed on a left side of the center section, and a second side section disposed on a right side of the center section opposite the first side section, the first side section configured to at least partially drop from a left side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size, the second side section configured to at least partially drop from a right side edge of the mattress on the bed of the particular size; a first filling material with a first percentage of down between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in the center section; and a second filling material with feathers and a second percentage of down between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in the first side section and in the second side section, the second percentage of down being less than the first percentage of down.
 12. The comforter of claim 11, wherein the first filling material has a greater fill power than a fill power of the second filling material.
 13. The comforter of claim 11, wherein the center section extends substantially entirely across a longitudinal direction of the comforter.
 14. The comforter of claim 13, wherein the center section extends the entire length across the longitudinal direction of the comforter.
 15. The comforter of claim 11, wherein the center section has a width that extends a short distance beyond side edges of the mattress on the bed of the particular size.
 16. The comforter of claim 11, wherein the first side section and the second side section each include a blend of feathers and down with a sufficient percentage of down to emulate substantially a same loft as the center section.
 17. The comforter of claim 16, wherein the first percentage of down in the center section is greater than 70% and smaller than 95%, and the second percentage of down in the first side section and in the second side section is greater than 5% and smaller than 30%.
 18. The comforter of claim 11, wherein the center section is divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a checkerboard pattern across the center section.
 19. The comforter of claim 11, wherein the center section is divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a width direction of the center section, each of the baffle boxes extending across a longitudinal direction of the center section.
 20. The comforter of claim 11, wherein the center section is divided into a plurality of baffle boxes arranged in a longitudinal direction of the center section, each of the baffle boxes extending across a width-wise direction of the center section. 